A bicompact scheme and spectral decomposition method for difference solution of Maxwell's equations in layered media

In layered media, the solution of the Maxwell equations has discontinuity of the derivative or the function itself at media interfaces. For the first time, finite-difference schemes providing convergence for discontinuous solutions across straight media interfaces are proposed for the one-dimensional formulation of the Maxwell equations. These are bicompact conservative schemes. They are two-point and layer boundaries are taken as mesh nodes. The scheme explicitly accounts for physically correct interface conditions at media interfaces. We propose an essentially new technique which accounts for medium dispersion. All these features provide the second order of accuracy even on discontinuous solutions. Calculation examples, which illustrate these results, are given. The proposed method is verified by comparison with a previously performed experiment on propagation of normally incident plane wave on one-dimensional photonic crystal. Calculated spectrum agrees well with the measured one within experimental error of 2-5%. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd